Automatic short-circuit alarm for electrical gas-lighting or other systems.



PATENTED MAY 31, 190 L 3. EM. BARRELL. S 7 AUTOMATIC SHORT CIRCUIT ALARM FOR ELECTRICAL GAS LIGHTIN'G' OR OTHER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15,.1903.

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Patented May 31, 1904.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND M. BABBELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEVV YOBK.

AUTOMATIC SHORT-CIRCUIT ALARM FOR ELECTRICAL GAS-LIGHTING OR OTHER SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,134, dated May 31-, 1904.

Application filed June 15,1903. Serial No. 161,593- (No model.)

To (Ml whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, FERDINAND M. BARRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Short-Circuit Alarms for Electrical Gas-Lighting or other Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic short-circuit alarms for electrical gas-lighting and other systems.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an improved alarm or telltale for electrical gas-lighting systems which will automatically and audibly indicate a short circuit or ground anywhere on the system, so that the batteries can be switched off and saved from polarization or running down pending the remedy of the trouble.

Telltales or alarms for this general purpose have been used heretofore, one construction being shown in the patent to Bedding, No. 432,215, July 15, 1890.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a simple, cheap, and reliable telltale of the class set forth, and more particularly the utilization of the spark-coil as a magnet for closing the local or telltale circuit and an improved and novel retarder to cause the armature which closes the local circuit to move sluggishly, so that the alarm Will not be sounded when the electrical gas-lighting appliances are used from time to time. This retarder is a separate attachment and is different from and a distinct improvement on the retarding means of the Bedding patent, No. 432,215, heretofore referred to, in that it is more simple and reliable in its action, as the armature in my retarder is free and directly exposed to the magnetic flux of the electromagnet and a separate dash-pot and piston are employed, while in the Bedding device the armature itself is submerged in the retarding fluid. By preference I employ glycerin in the dash-pot; but the use of glycerin is not essential.

The invention is set forth in the following description and claim and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the complete invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 details of the retarder and contacts for the local circuit.

The numerals 1 represent binding-posts to which the main battery and other wires of the gas-lighting system will be connected, as obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

To avoid the use of an extra magnet, I employ the usual spark-coil 2 of the gas-lighting system as a magnet for closing the local or telltale circuit and place it in circuit with the binding-post 1 by the Wires 10, in one of which is interposed a one-point switch 6, which can be opened to save batteries when a short circuit or ground has been indicated by the alarm.

The retarder consists of a dash-pot 3, suitably and stationarily secured in relation to the spark-coil or magnet 2 by the ears 3. This dash-pot is arranged with its longitudinal axis coinciding with that of the sparkcoil. In the dash-pot is a retarding fluid 3", preferably some such heavy fluid as glycerin, in which is piston 4, connected by a stem to armature 4, which is suitably disposed adjacent the pole 2 of the coil 2 and located outside of the dash-pot, thus differing from the submerged armature of the Bedding patent, No. 432,215, before referred to. The armature 4 carries on opposite sides thereof metal contact-springs 5', adapted to make contact with stationary metal contact-springs 5. The springs 5 are the terminals of local circuit 9, in which is included local battery 8 and a bell, buzzer, or other alarm 7.

The spark-coil 2 and the dash-pot 3 are arranged verticallythat is, the spark-coil is immediately above and vertically alined with the dash-pot. The gravity of the piston or plunger 4 normally keeps it at the bottom of the dash-pot and the contact-springs 5 down and out of contact with the contacts 5, leaving the local circuit normally open.

Lighting the gas involves only a momentary current which is not continued long enough to cause the armature 4 to draw the contacts 5 against the contacts 5, because the retarding fluid prevents quick action of the piston and armature. Should a short circuit or ground occur, the continued current causes the pole 2 to attract the armature 4, which makes contacts 5 engage contacts 5, thereby completing local circuit 9 and causing the bell to sound and attract the attention of some one who can throw off the switch 6, and thus cut off the gas-lighting batteries. When the current in coil 2 ceases, the armature drops and the local circuit is opened, whereupon bell 7 stops ringing.

The main advantages possessed by my invention over those heretofore used for this purpose are simplicity, cheapness, reliability of action, adaptability, because the ordinary spark-coil used on all gas-lighting systems can be secured on a board and my improved dash-pot attachment and contacts readily sccured below the spark-coil. The bell, local batteries, and switch can be positioned any- Where.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an automatic short-circuit alarm or telltale for gas-lighting and other systems, the combination with a magnet in the main circuit, of an alarm-circuit, an alarm operated by said alarm-circuit, normally open contacts controlling the alarm-circuit, a dash-pot, a piston movable in the dash-pot, a piston rod or stem connected to the piston, an armature carried by the piston-rod and operated on the energization of the magnet and havingmeans for bridging the contacts of the alarm-circuit when attracted by the magnet, said armature and piston and piston-rod being automatically self-retracting when the magnet is deenergized, and the dash-pot and piston being adapted to oppose or retard the movement of the armature when the magnet is energized.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND M. BARRELL. l/Vitnesses:

M. G. ANDERSON, R. O. E. LODGE. 

